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Bitcoin Transactions At The Speed Of Lightening?

By Shubham Joshi

The biggest drawback of the oldest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, is its slow speed to complete a transaction. To address this issue the Bitcoin ecosystem introduced a lightning network. It is a layer-2 solution built on the Bitcoin blockchain. This technological solution is designed to minimize glitches associated with the Bitcoin blockchain by initiating off-chain transactions.

The Lightning network makes use of micropayment channels to make the blockchain’s capacity more scalable and operate transactions more efficiently hence reducing the transactions costs.

Due to its connection to Bitcoin and its capacity to assist the chain add utility value, Lightning Network is a key layer-2 solution. Initially, Bitcoin was designed to be a decentralized payment system which users could access from anywhere while maintaining their anonymity. Scalability was not a goal of Bitcoin’s design. But a solution had to be found because Bitcoin’s widespread adoption caused issues.

Like a primary blockchain, the Lightning Network removes from the transaction the financial intermediary, such as a bank, which is responsible for routing most transactions.

Evolution of the Lightning Network

In February 2015, Joseph Poon and Tadge Dryja teamed up to address one of the most important issues and vocal points of the Bitcoin ecosystem: the increase in transaction fees.

Taking inspiration from Satoshi Nakamoto’s thoughts on payment channels, the duo started working on decreasing the transaction fees.

A comprehensive white paper was issued in January 2016, and more developers began working with the duo as the Lightning Network project gained momentum. 

Within a span of time after the white paper and developer collaboration, Lightning Labs,the company which maintains the Lightning Network, published a beta version for developers to test. 

This move attracted huge industry leaders in the tech domain to take notice of the plans of Lightning labs and the value that layer 2 solutions can bring to the digital ecosystem.

How does the Lightning Network work?

As mentioned above, the Lightning Network makes use of the concept of payment channels stated by the legendary Satoshi Nakamoto. The protocol permits the establishment of a peer-to-peer payment channel between two parties. 

Once formed, the channel enables the parties to send an unlimited number of transactions that are quick and inexpensive. Users can use it as their own private ledger to pay for even smaller products and services, like coffee, without harming the Bitcoin network. To establish a payment channel, the payer must lock a specific quantity of Bitcoin onto the network.

Once the Bitcoin is locked in, the recipient is free to invoice any amount they like. The consumer can decide to add Bitcoin on a regular basis if they want to keep the channel active.By using a Lightning Network channel, both parties can transact with each other.

Without notifying the main blockchain, the two parties are free to transfer money between them. The layer-2 protocol significantly accelerates transactions because nodes are not required to authorize each transaction before it can proceed. 

What are the advantages of Lightning Network?

Scalability:

One of the most discussed characteristics of the Bitcoin blockchain has been its lack of scalability. The network’s ability to scale was constrained by the addition of each block for every transaction. The Lightning Network tends to solve these issues this by taking transactions off the blockchain, taking into account security and anonymity concerns.

Decentralized And Censorship Resistant:

Users of Lightning have the same control over their own nodes and payment methods as those of Bitcoin. These contrasts sharply with the vast majority of new Layer 2 solutions in the larger crypto ecosystem.

Micropayment support:

The Lightning Network facilitates swift micropayments. In comparison to the Lightning Network, Bitcoin has a far greater minimum transaction output requirement.

Speed:

Transactions are significantly faster and more effective since they are moved away from the main blockchain and continued in layer-2 solutions. Transactions are carried out through a two-party consensus mechanism called a payment channel. This makes the Lightning Network one of the key elements of the Bitcoin ecosystem. 

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